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Winch on centerboard

Submitted by Brian Dellett on Sun, 04/27/2014 - 00:15

My buddy just bought a Scot and it has a four inch winch on the centerboard trunk cap. It's #3000 something and has the angled kick up piece which is where the winch is. Has anyone seen this before? The seller bought it used and didn't know what it was for either.

Yea the main came from the back of the boom to that winch and there was no mid boom block. That is the only way that it could be reefed too. Seems crazy to have a setup like that but I guess some people swore by it... ...or at it.

The boom was designed to make roller reefing posible. With the main sheet coming from the end of the boom the mainsail could be rolled up on the boom like a window shade. However, when I've tried it the resulting sail shape was too full thereby reducing the desired effect of reefing.

When coming about the helmsperson first stands and then turns toward the stern while swapping the mainsheet and tiller extension between hands. After turning 180 degrees he/she sits on the new windward side of the boat.

At first it seems a bit awkward but people get used to it quite quickly. It is slightly disconcerting to take ones eyes off what's ahead, if only momentarily.